Diet’s role in breast cancer prevention is understated in health care, says US survey

A US women’s survey finds that 19% have been informed of nutrition’s role in breast cancer risk through conversations with a health care provider. While this value is up slightly — from 16% last year — fewer of these women specifically mention diet when asked about their awareness of effective cancer prevention strategies. 

The nationwide online poll was conducted among 2,022 women, ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

“It’s clear that most women are still unaware of the lifesaving message that what they eat and drink is directly correlated to their chances of developing breast cancer,” says Dr. Kristi Funk, a renowned breast cancer surgeon and leading prevention expert from Los Angeles.

Funk is an advocate of the American Medical Association breast cancer prevention policy, adopted in June to educate the public about the benefits of specific lifestyle changes that physicians should regularly discuss with their patients.

These include engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a healthy plant-based diet, and limiting alcohol intake.

Survey findings

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Morning Consult survey found a slight decrease in the number of women who are aware of the role diet plays in breast cancer risk — 25% in 2025, down from 28% in 2024.

Few surveyed women are aware of the impact of processed meats and fats on breast cancer risk.Eating fruits and vegetables is the most frequently mentioned dietary habit for reducing breast cancer risk. Meanwhile, 24% of women (up from 23%) mention vegetables, and 17% (up from 16%) mention fruits as key risk reduction foods.

However, significantly fewer mentioned avoiding processed meats or limiting fats. Only 1% mentioned plant-based, vegan, or vegetarian diets as potential preventive measures.

There was a 4% increase in the percentage of women who correctly identified that high soy consumption reduces breast cancer risk. The notion that soy products are associated with increased risk is a myth that has been widely and mistakenly promoted, according to a 2017 study involving more than 6,000 women with breast cancer. 

Emphasis on whole foods, physical activity

The survey authors also stress that findings have shown that eating soy foods like tofu, tempeh, and soy milk is protective against breast cancer.

“Disappointingly, the women who said they have discussed nutrition’s role in breast cancer prevention with their health care provider were slightly more likely to inaccurately believe that dairy reduces risk — 16% in 2025, up from 9% in 2024. This highlights the growing need for clearer messaging from providers,” underscores Stephanie McBurnett, a registered dietitian with the Physicians Committee.

“On a more positive note, the individuals most likely to say beans help reduce risk were those that have discussed nutrition as a potentially preventive measure with their health care provider. That’s an encouraging trend,” she adds.

Starting in September, community members and local leaders will join health experts from the Physicians Committee at dozens of US rallies to raise awareness of strategies for preventing breast cancer. The group is also organizing several international rallies.

In other salient research, a separate study recently found that a cancer diagnosis does not necessarily improve a survivor’s diet or generally motivate healthier eating habits. The analysis of public US data between 2003 and 2022 flags an information deficit among cancer patients planning their nutrition and a general lack of guidance from healthcare workers.